Anyway, lots of groups hounded State Farm about their choice and that Rob Schneider's personal beliefs that vaccines are bad runs counter to sound health insurance policies so they yanked the ads. I get that. I also get that he was selling car insurance and not health insurance and that he is a playing a character. I am incredibly pro-vaccine and don't need to hear my parents remind me of kids they knew when they were kids who had polio to realize I don't want a return to those times. That doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy the commercials because I did. In a Tweet after the announcement by State Farm, Rob talked about free speech. The guy is entitled to his beliefs. He is entitled to talk. It isn't like his stance is not known. He has been spouting off about it for a long time and he was hired by an insurance company despite his views.
This is real BREAKING NEWS Enty!
ReplyDeleteI'd assume he is still getting paid since he assumably had a contract. If not, I hope he sues.
ReplyDeleteI'm tired of this witch hunt after people who have different beliefs about vaccines. There is very real evidence that they can cause harm.
It is a parent's choice and a parent's choice alone whether or not to vaccine a child.
What do I care what other parents do if I am so sure vaccines work?
There is absolutely no credible evidence by any reputable scientific group that vaccines cause harm.
DeleteNot vaccinating your child is the same as second hand smoke. If someone wants to live on an island and kill themself with lung cancer, go right ahead - in fact, please do. But no one should have the right to infect others they come in close proximity to with a potentially deadly disease.
I don't care where this talentless scmuck works or for whom. But don't be stupid and claim there is any evidence, any at all, that is repeatable, and suggests that vaccines are dangerous in the way presented by those who oppose them for all children. There isn't, and never really was. The only researcher who claimed to have such evidence has been charged with crimes, lost his license and acknowledged he lied, but claims he had good intentions. If you don't want to vaccinate your child, then move to a remote arctic location and stop trying to sicken the rest of our families. I'm just a little passionate about this, so proceed at your own risk.
DeleteThere are groups that care what he thinks?
ReplyDeleteHow much do you wanna bet "Big Pharma" $$$ is funding those "citizen's groups"? I've been with State Farm for 35+ years. I'll be writing a letter, for what it's worth (nothing). David vs. Koch money.
ReplyDeleteI get tired of people spouting about "free speech" like they're being punished for having an opinion. Free speech is the right to speak politically without fear of reprisal from the government.
ReplyDeleteYou're free to say whatever you want, and the company is free to say they don't want your opinions representing them. And seeing as how LA is trending right now in the news for sweeping childhood illnesses in schools due to lack of immunizations, the company is protecting their family friendly image. A measles epidemic is not family friendly.
And I've never heard that Rob Schneider was anti-vax.
Thank you! Anytime something like this happens and the person cries about free-speech I want to bang my head against the wall.
DeleteDoes he have kids?
ReplyDeleteFamous people need to be more responsible with their opinions …
ReplyDeleteMy uncle had polio when he was young and I heard all the horror stories growing up from family members.
ReplyDeleteI am not opposed to vaccines -- when needed.
BUT! I AM opposed to pumping babies full of vaccines all at the same time. I don't think a baby can handle all that in their system w/o any consequences. It should be done gradually as the child grows and ONLY if absolutely necessary.
To each his own. Parents have a right to do what is best for their baby as long as it doesn't put them in a dangerous situation.
Vaccines after age 3-Okay.
DeleteRamming little babies full of them-wrong.
+1, nora and b626.
DeleteAgreed! And they should be separated
DeleteNow hopefully those stupid commercials will stop. It wasnt funny in the 90' on SNL and appears it still isnt funny.
ReplyDeleteI have absolutely no cultural reference point for this. However I loathe this dude in general fir every polly wanna crappy adam sandler flick he's been in. He's as funny as an anal fissure.
DeleteFree speech works great. Now his boss freely said "youre fired" . See how that works rob? Dont vaccine your own kids, but stfu.
ReplyDeleteOh, and E: State Farm does offer health insurance. Really, though, you should've posted Rob's lovely tweet equating protecting the health of children with being a victim of the Holocaust. He forgot that the "Nazi's" in California also have a pretty easy way to get around the doctor's signature requirement.
ReplyDeleteToday California passed a law to force parents to get a Doc's permission to not vaccinate their kids or they can't attend school! Nazi's
— Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) June 28, 2012
Variety just did a story about the vaccine crisis in Los Angeles. There are schools in which 80% of the kids aren't vaccinated. This is a threat to public health.
ReplyDeleteFor those who aren't aware, about 10 percent of population can't be vaccinated - they are too young, they are immune compromised, or vaccines simply don't work for them. We are protecting these people - the young and immune compromised. These diseases can KILL this segment of the population. Babies die from whooping cough, measles. If an immune compromised pregnant woman gets measles, her child will be severely deformed.
Trying getting information from a variety of sources and not just Dr. Mercola.
If a celebrity uses his or her public platform and celebrity status to advocate for a certain belief, then I have no problem with there being ramifications for their advocacy.
Makin' copiessss LOL
ReplyDeleteI just can't fathom not wanting to protect my babies from those diseases.
ReplyDeleteThe Hollywood Reporter, of all places, had a great piece on the anti-Vax movement in Los Angeles: apparently in some areas the vaccination rate is lower than it is in Chad or Sudan. http://edit.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-vaccination-fail-why-la-731815
ReplyDeleteI wonder if some movie star's kid will have to die of a preventable disease before this trend goes away.
I also think it's fascinating that the anti-Vax people tend to be wealthy, if not particularly highly-educated - a good description of much of Hollywood. These are the sort of people that would laugh at religious fundamentalists and their 'creation science' or climate change deniers, yet when it comes to 'vaccination science', they pick and choose their facts from the (very) few medical professionals who support their point of view.
ReplyDeleteWe all have beliefs, and I bet some of those beliefs don't coincide with what our employer advocates. Should we all lose our jobs for opinions we expressed several years ago?
ReplyDeleteThat's a dangerous slope, and I won't walk on it.
+ 1 million! You just nailed the crux of this issue in less than 50 words! Perfectly said!!!
DeleteThe issue was the non-vaccinated older kids could get infants and toddlers sick before they were old enough to get vaccinated.
ReplyDeleteWhich vaccines have side effects that are worse than the disease they are preventing?
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ReplyDeleteIf he signed a contract before they changed their tune, he will be paid. They knew. He was vocal.
ReplyDeleteAnd…just like abortion, it really does not matter what your view is on other people getting vaccinated, because they have the RIGHT to choose to or not.
Its the law.
Free speech doesn't mean free from culpability.
ReplyDeleteLet's not mince words.
ReplyDeleteIf you're an anti-vaxxer, you're ignorant.
It's really that simple.
For all of you spouting off about free speech, it does have implications in the workplace. I can't be fired for having a different belief than my boss. I can't be fired for being a Democrat in an office of Republicans.
ReplyDeleteIt is applicable here.
If he is getting paid anyhow, I doubt he cares. But if not, there will be a lawsuit and he will likely win.
Entry sounded exactly like Dana Carvey's grouchy old man character.
ReplyDeleteIn America, you are no longer allowed to have an opinion or to speak freely, because someone might get offended if you don't agree with them.
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's why Count Jerkula didn't get that Borden's Milk spokesman position. I did put in a good word for you pal.
ReplyDeleteYou nailed it @crila16 -- I was just saying that the other day...I don't feel free in this country. Can't say anything anymore w/o offending someone. It's ridiculous how the people in this country has turned into a bunch of pansies who can't handle anyone thinking differently than them.
ReplyDeleteCorrect. There ARE a bunch of pussies. However, when a celebrity uses his platform to spread erroneous information, it is dangerous because stupid people listen and believe it. For no other reason than they said so..
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWhen you are anti-vaccine, it's not just about about you and your child....you're putting everyone around you at risk, especially if some disease decides to mutate.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard that he was outspoken on vaccinations.
ReplyDeleteThe guy in the photo is Richard Lamer.
ReplyDeleteHe's entitled to his beliefs and State Farm is entitled to fire him if he's generating bad publicity. And the anti-vaccine crowd is flat out wrong. In addition to the actual scientific research demonstrating that the anti-vaccine position is wrong, it just doesn't make any sense. If vaccines are all about money for drug companies, wouldn't they (and doctors) make way more money selling me a pill I have to take every day for the rest of my life to treat polio rather than a one time vaccine (for example)? Trust science, not Rob Schneider.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to have the courage of your convictions by all means exercise your right to free speech. If it then costs you something, don't whine about the price. You have free speech, and State Farm has free will.
ReplyDeleteExactly Prunella. Cash, or convictions?
DeleteI am so so sick of the vax debate. Nobody is ever gonna change their mind about it due to an internet discussion. Or really due to any discussion. Anti-vaxxers are completely set in their ways, and you can shove scientific findings and they';ll still hold firmly to their beliefs.
ReplyDeleteThat said, he's allowed to state his mind but since the scientific community firmly adheres to the herd immunity factor, it's reasonable that an insurance company would fire him.
I also agree that political correctness has gone way too far.
And whether it's right or not to fire him shouldn't be based on whether we agree with his position re: vaccines. It should be based on the fact that State Farm has the right to fire a spokesperson if they feel that person doesn't represent their brand properly.
ReplyDeleteHey Count, I understand why you hate a particular poster now....what a nasty, shitty person!
ReplyDeleteObviously this isn't a free country and all of you who support this kind of thought an opinion policing WILL eventually find yourselves targeted and on the wrong side. Hope you enjoy it because you deserve it.
Oh, and Enty/ern it's "conscioiusness" not "conscience."
ReplyDeleteAmericans! Free speech guarantees are based on Congress' prohibition on limiting it. In the commercial realm there are no guarantees and you must "play ball" if you want to get paid. Drop the free speech defense and live in the real world!
ReplyDeleteHe has free speech..he's using it now..and his employer has the right to fire his ass. Dr Rob probably is all for injections..of botox. This isn't about offending a group, it's about public safety and common sense.
ReplyDeleteSpeech should be free, but it should not be without a cost.
ReplyDeleteKidJones, where are you from? Europe or the UK? I certainly don't want the US, with it's current piss poor definition of free speech, to ever become anything like those places, where you can go to jail if you hurt someone's precious feelings. I suppose if you aren't allowed to have or even voice an opinion, you wouldn't understand. And that's fine. Nobody in the US tries to tell you what your laws really mean, so we'd appreciate the same treatment. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'd fucking starve before I ever allowed someone to tell me what I can or cannot say, on my own time, as a private citizen. The idea that because you made a commercial (or anything else) for a company means that you can't have a personal opinion or share it in public is one of the most retarded things I've ever heard in my life. Hey, maybe you need to fuck the CEO to get that paycheck too! After all, it's just "playing ball", who cares about anything other than GETTIN PAID? Do you people listen to yourselves? What kind of world do you want to live in? One where you're utterly owned by your employer, to the point where you can't even have opinions and share them on your own personal time?? How is that freedom?
Whoa. Someone needs a snickers©
DeleteRob Schneider is an idiot, ms/mr worthigton- He got fired for that.
DeletePLUS 1 MILLION, ASTRA!!!
DeleteHey I have a right to my opinion and you have the right to be offended by it. While I don't agree with all the pile-ons lately, unfortunately social media and the internet makes it easy to do.
ReplyDeleteIn a business like advertising and you are selling or advocating for reputation and image, you are going to get canned if you are no longer a viable spokesperson. People are dropped from ad campaigns and endorsements all the time for expressing opinions contrary to the corporations they are shilling for or potentially damaging to those companies or if you behave in a way that reflects badly on those companies.
Does Ray Rice have a running shoe endorsement? Oops I mean did Ray Rice have a running shoe endorsement.
What is more upsetting is the doctor that started this anti-vaccine movement admitted his evidence was shoddy if not false and as a result we are going to be facing some old epidemics that could have been totally avoided if people had any common sense along with all the cool new ones coming our way.
I also have an aunt that grow up with polio. She survived with it not without challenges and manages to live with the disabilities causes as a result. Adults who are missing vaccines are also just as susceptible even more to certain diseases. Like I was missing the red measle or the German measle vaccination, which I did get as an adult when my doctor realized it seemed to be missing from my medical history because that disease in an adult can kill you or render you sterile or both I can't remember.
ReplyDeleteAhh, yes I need a Snickers...cute. I'm reminded of your many meltdowns and tantrums, perhaps you need to take your own advice? I guess it's totally cool to get worked up over gossip site drama between people who don't even know each other in real life, but when it comes to something important like free speech, it's just crazy to get worked up over it, right? Jeez, good thing you've got your priorities straight!
ReplyDeleteSo, Schneider should've been fired because YOU think he's an idiot? Careful, perhaps one day your employer will think you are an idiot and fire you. So remember your words here and don't dare complain when what you advocate bites you in the ass. I certainly don't care enough about the lives and opinions of others to try and destroy them over it, and anyone who does is a piece of shit and has no place in a "free" country. Plain and simple. Besides, what kind of whack jobs have so much time to be outraged over opinions of others? That might be an indication that some soul searching and re-evaluation of life choices is needed.
Thanks Trilby :)
Oh lord...not the secondhand smoke bullshit! If you live in a city, you are getting about a million times more cancer causing chemicals from simply breathing the polluted air than you ever could from secondhand smoke. So where's your outrage over that? I guess it's not nearly as satisfying to direct your morally righteous outrage at the faceless, polluting corporations as it is to try and shame smokers. How would you get to feel smugly superior if you didn't get to do it face to face with someone that has a habit that you don't like??
ReplyDeleteFor people that don't judge and hate religion because it's so judgmental, etc., some of you do a whole hell of a lot of judging. I guess the need to feel better than others never really goes away, it just gets redirected.
Ruh roh. I just want to say if people choose not to vaccinate their kids, then start a school for all un-vaccinated kids. Kids can't take peanut butter sangas to school in case Axl or Starla have allergies. Also, some people here got scary....
ReplyDeleteAlso, my employer can fire me for airing my opinions, particularly political. No freedom of speech for me! I'm sure swearing at the tv during football doesn't count. I hope.
ReplyDeleteOh boy, idiocracy in full display here today. First of all, do you work for the government? No? Then you have exactly ZERO "free speech" rights in your workplace. Other than violating the civil rights of a protected class, a private employer can pretty much fire anyone for any reason at any time. Contract rights are different. Secondly, there is no scientific evidence that giving babies multiple vaccines at once causes an iota of harm. Some pediatricians have humored low information parents by agreeing to this schedule. I survived multiple vaccinations 40 years ago and my children survived them 10 years ago, without "some adverse consequences". Science, people, it works on research, experimentation, evidence and facts, not internet thoughts and gut feelings. Mkay?
ReplyDeleteThis isnt about free speech. Its about being a liability to a company that pays him tons of money. Im quite sure he has plenty to spare, rest assured his life is not "destroyed" lol
ReplyDeleteAnd i highly doubt im the only one who thinks celebrities who talk out their ass are idiots. But thats just, like, your opinion man.
Im all for free speech- what american is not? Im also for consequences.
Delete1. Once again: freedom of speech is the constitutional right to a political opinion without fear of reprisal from the government. Not the constitutional right to call anyone you disagree with "Nazi's" in the court of social media without fear of the scorn of many and potential loss of profits.
ReplyDelete2. He did commercials for them. They took his commercials out of rotation because as a company that provides health care, anti-vaccination is not something most doctors agree with, and therefore doesn't agree with the image of the company. His contract likely includes a morals clause, which looks something like this:
The Actor shall not commit any act or do anything which might tend to bring Actor into public disrepute, contempt, scandal, or ridicule, or which might tend to reflect unfavorably on the Network, any sponsor of a program, any such sponsor’s advertising agency, any stations broadcasting or scheduled to broadcast a program, or any licensee of the Network, or to injure the success of any use of the Series or any program.
He signed the contract, he agreed to the terms, and they judged his actions to reflect unfairly on their brand and can thus terminate.
3. You certainly have your right to opine as a private citizen, but employers have the right to determine something you say or do does not reflect well on the company's image. Get a DUI, you can get fired. Say people who support vaccination laws are "Nazi's", there's the door.
@Tina, Ray Rice does not have a running shoe endorsement. Nike dropped him like a hot coal. Hope Solo, however, still does. Nike says it's because she pled not guilty in her DV case.
Employers have a code of conduct and most contractors, vendors and staff have to abide by those rules. Break those and you are no longer associated with the company. And yes, your employer can have an opinion about what you do in your personal life if you are collecting a paycheck from them and violate their regulations and parameters. Your paycheck also means you represent the company. Break the rules, no paycheck. Pretty simple.
ReplyDeleteCool, so you can suck it up when those consequences come get you one day! So as long as you don't think you deserve special treatment, go for it. I'll continue to think it's bullshit and voice that opinion :)
ReplyDeleteI think all celebs are fucking retarded and anyone who listens to them for any reason is also retarded. Believe it or not, people CAN come to the same conclusions as a celeb, but not be influenced by their opinion, or even be aware of that opinion. If you support gay rights, like most of the celebs do, are you "influenced" by them or do you think its the right thing? But I suppose only people like you can make your own decisions and draw your own conclusions. If someone has an opinion you don't share, they must be stupid, brainwashed, influenced, or uneducated, right? Isn't that generally how people "tolerate" other opinions?
Uhhhhh. Its my opinion that you've ceased to make sense- i have no idea where you're going with this, at all. But here's to you having a better day <3
DeleteOh, and also. Retarded is not the current nomenclature we use- its developmentally disabled. Youre welcome.
DeleteI am so sick and fucking tired of fucking tabloid media. Its all so hypocritical. Do as I say, not as I do.
ReplyDeleteI am so sick and fucking tired of fucking tabloid media. Its all so hypocritical. Do as I say, not as I do.
ReplyDeleteEnty, you have unleashed the anti-vaxxers. They are, as I've discovered, frequently unhinged. One thing I found interesting about the Rob Schneider debacle was how it played out on social media. It as actually Rob's supporters--anti-vaccine activists and parents--who cost him his job. For some reason, they would include the @StateFarm handle on every Tweet regarding the controversy, including the super super crazy ones (chemtrails, vast worldwide conspiracy of all scientists and doctors covering up "vaccine danger"), and that's when State Farm said, nope, not worth it. If they hadn't deluged the StateFarm Twitter handle with their nonsense, I wonder if Schneider's ads would have been pulled. If I'm Schneider, I don't know if I'd hitch my star to the anti-vaccine movement. They're loud but a tiny minority of the parent population, and they're really becoming marginalized in the mainstream. I feel like this was Schneider's last stab at work. And, like you, I sort of liked the ad.
ReplyDeleteYou don't call pro-vaxx people Nazis and expect to get away with it with a private employer.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same about the Duck Dynasty flap (pun intended), and I was on Phil's side. (That, however, was an interview conducted in his house on his time, not an ad for a company that covers vaccines in their policies.)
I myself am pro-vaxx, but I didn't get them all at once when the kids were babies.
What's going on in that Hollywood Reporter article is embarrassing. But that's what happens when people listen to Jenny McCarthy and read quack sites like the Health Ranger. The common denominator? Using no fucking common sense.
I posted before I read yours, Moms who Vax.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe everything I read, but I'm not a big believer in conspiracy theories. I wouldn't want to deal with that if I was State Farm, either.
I wish people would stop parroting conspiracy-minded idiots and do their own research before choosing what to do. But I guess that's too much to ask.
And in another completely unrelated thing, is "little pig" everybody beater alec baldwin still being paid by that financial company and many others?
ReplyDeleteThis is the modern world. Be stupid and pay for it, be a violent asshole but liberal and nothing bad will ever happen to you (at least unless you marry some non perfect person).
Haha yeah rosie, I'll be sure to change my wording because you told me to. Please, hold your breath on that. You have a great day too, sweetie!
ReplyDeleteLioness, so you know for a fact that all anti-vax people made their decisions based on Jenny McCarthy's opinions? You know what research they've read, and that they're all conspiracy minded idiots? Amazing!
ReplyDeleteKermit, you've explained it pretty perfectly. The logic used to explain why Alec is still beloved despite being a turd is always good for a laugh. Or it would be funny if these people weren't the ones setting public opinion and influencing regular run of the mill (not conspiracy minded!) idiots. Mostly it's just sad and kind of scary.
A Doctor's Take on the Anti Vaccine Movement
ReplyDeleteBTW, you get way more mercury when you eat one piece of salmon or a can of tuna than you do with all recommended vaccines combined. If you read Dr. Mercola, please stop. He spreads so much dangerous misinformation and pseudo science. He is hurting our country.
And @Seven, you fucking rock. You have already said everything I wanted to say about the free speech issue.
There is a lot of misinformation about what free speech really is and how important herd immunity is.
The commercial made me sad, the same with the pump you up guys.
ReplyDeleteDont care for schneider , never saw the commercials, and certainly wouldnt take medical advice from him, lol. He is free to say and think what he pleases; in this case there were consequences because state farm free to do what they want. Thats their right of freedom. Why wld they have someone working for who doesnt support company's objectives? Would u have a nazi on tourist board for Israel? Be sensible! And of course every child should be vaccinated, in the manner the parent sees fit. But to not vaccinate is just pretzel logic-ie, well that disease doesnt exist anymore, no one gets that anymore. Yeah, einstein, no one gets it because of vaccines!!!!
ReplyDeleteCompanies hire celebrity spokespeople because they think those people embody qualities that will make them effective at selling the companies' products. Trust me, they don't throw away their marketing dollars. They do research. If a celebrity spokesperson doesn't increase sales, they get the boot.
ReplyDeleteSo, like it or not, in America celebrity sells. Maybe that's a commentary on us as a culture although we are not the only country where companies use celebrities to shill for them.
State Farm isn't saying this guy can't express his opinions publicly. He is free to do so. But they have the freedom to stop using him as a spokesperson and they exercised THAT freedom.
I don't see how one freedom is more valuable than the other frankly.
Tiger Woods was free to fuck waitresses in his car in the parking lot of a diner ... and most of his sponsors were free to fire his ass as a result.
Except Nike. That icon of American capitalism, that employs child labor in third world country and thinks Michael Vick killing a few dogs is no big deal.
First, whether you believe he should have been fired or not shouldn't be based on whether you agree/disagree with what he said - that just muddies the waters.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely a slippery slope when people are happy someone got fired, just because that person's opinions are different from theirs.
But I don't see anyone on this thread taking that attitude.
Second, I'm not sure about what you can and can't say in your job (or in your private life while employed by someone). I do know that some employers in the US are now demanding their employees' facebook passwords as a condition of employment. And people have been fired for dissing their employers on facebook.
I'd be interested to hear a labor lawyer weigh in on that question.
What if you don't have a Facebook or any social media? Will they refuse to hire you?
ReplyDeleteYou know people here live to spite people that they disagree with! How many meltdowns, tantrums, and middle school slapfights have occurred here, within the last 2 months or so? Not to mention the stalking and trying to find out real life info on people, because of differences of opinion. This is not a place for reasonable disagreements or respecting other opinions, haven't you noticed?
I do see what you mean about celebs, but when it extends to nobodies, private citizens, is when it gets worrisome. I don't really give a damn about celebs, they influence my life in absolutely no way beyond my enjoying talking shit about them. It's very weird that others put them on a pedestal and basically worship them.
But what's weirder is these Twitter witch hunts where assholes mount these do-gooding crusades. It's all so "First world problems" and seems to be all about narcissistic attention seeking, not actual concern over an issue. Those people need a life!
Oh and who the hell eats tuna any more? It's full of radiation! Same with salmon.
I heard the jury is still out on science...
ReplyDeleteWhen Rosie's the voice of reason in an argument, it's time for the other person in that argument to take a long hard look at what they've become.
ReplyDeleteYet, Scientologists get hired no problem.
ReplyDeleteI miss Jake...from State Farm.
ReplyDeleteI believe in vaccines but giving them all at once for a baby or young child is too much. One poke per visit. If your doctor's big ego is too pushy to agree....,bye bye. There's lots of doctors.
ReplyDelete